Transforming Terrorist Trauma into 'Tidying' Drill

A UK immigrant to Israel decides she will focus energies on tidying rather than being traumatized by terror.

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Chana Ya'ar, 30/10/11 15:39

Past Grad Katyusha impact site / archive

Israel news photo: HLJ

A British immigrant, noting the latest series of attacks in Israel's southern region has decided she will focus her energies on tidying up rather than being traumatized by Grad Katyusha missile attacks on cities in southern Israel.

Following the weekend's barrage of rocket and mortar attacks fired by Gaza terrorists at the region, many English-speaking immigrants were posting questions, answers and tips on the Nefesh B'Nefesh listserve, including the standard "Listen to your radio," and some of which had to do with "Should we be using our gas masks?"

“I don't want to worry anyone unnecessarily,” wrote on person, “but I really think this is a huge wake up call for us all. Everyone should now clear out their shelters, and make sure the windows and shutters close properly in security rooms, that doors on both security rooms and shelters close properly.”

UK immigrant Helen Oster, who also posts on the listserve, told Arutz Sheva in an Internet interview Sunday that she agrees.

Told by Home Front Command earlier this year to practice going into her shelter at home, Oster did so – and suddenly realized the door wasn't closing properly. “I got it fixed as soon as possible,” she said.

During the 2006 Second Lebanon War, the Lebanese Hizbullah terrorist organization aimed a number of missiles at Zichron Ya'akov, where Oster now lives -- including long-range Syrian-made 302-mm Khaibar-1 rockets.

During the second drill, Oster “realized there was no clock and no radio... so I bought a clock and a wind-up radio.”

The third time, she said, she “started to think about 'home comforts.' The family now has “a first aid box, 12 bottles of water, crackers, tinned goods, cereals, beer, juice, etc.... which I rotate regularly.”

Oster said has had several opportunities this year during various drills to visit her “mamad” (safe space -ed.). “The last time, I stayed in there for a half hour!” she wrote. “I had a good tidy up, and decided that as it's a semi-store room anyway, (as I'm sure it is for a lot of people) that I'd store things that we'd find useful, just in case.”

The camping gear came out of the roof space. Sleeping bags, blow-up beds, gas cooker, porta-potty – “and more.” Oster added that her security room now has the “Rainbow” system installed, so the family does not have to wear gas masks when they enter the shelter.